You sure about that hot dog?
Thankfully, Comerica Park didn't make the list. However, that comes with a disclaimer: The presentation's credits point out data was not made available for all 30 stadiums. Hmmmmm.
The worst offender, or at least among those whose info was disclosed: Angel Stadium, where there were a mind-boggling 732 violations -- including a cockroach infestation in one kitchen last August.
What's not in a name?
Good thing it's not a Hawaiian custom to put your middle name on the back of your baseball uniform. Otherwise, Bronson Sardinha's might read like one of those reverse-pyramid eye charts you squint to decipher while renewing your license at the Secretary of State.
Seriously, can you imagine the stitchwork that'd go into Kiheimahanaomauiakeo?
That's 20 letters, or nine different ones (34.6 percent of the alphabet). In Scrabble, it'd be worth 38 points --and that's without landing on a single pink or blue tile. You've gotta believe he feels like he hit the lottery every time he's filling out a form that requests only the old middle initial.
Sardinha, 25, an outfielder who the Indians signed to a minor league contract earlier this month, currently is with the Buffalo Bisons of the Triple-A International League. Coincidentally, his brother Dane, 29, a catcher in the Tigers system, is playing in the same league for the Toledo Mud Hens.
Dane's middle name, by the way, is Keoloha. Bo-ring!
Power Rankings ...
1. Diamondbacks (1): After slow adaption, closer Brandon Lyon has saved 10 straight.
2. Red Sox (2): What's up with Hideki Okajima? He's allowed 14 of 17 inherited runners to score.
3. Angels (3): John Lackey's first start back was efficient: 99 pitches (67 strikes) in seven-inning win.
4. Cubs (6): Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster are 11-2 with a 2.19 ERA. The others: 6-8, 5.51.
5. Phillies (5): And they can run, too. They've stolen 14 consecutive bases without getting caught.
6. A's (9): They're scoring the old-fashioned way: Fourth in the AL in runs, but 13th in homers.
7. Astros (15): They've already come from behind to win 13 times, including from six down Thursday.
8. Indians (16): Team threw four shutouts in five games for the fifth time, first since '65.
9. Cardinals (4): Jason Isringhausen (8.00 ERA, six blown saves) might finally have lost his job.
10. Rays (14): New ballpark plans are out, and it's set to seat 34,000. My question: Umm, why so big?
11. Marlins (11): This weekend, Hanley Ramirez is expected to be locked in for six years, $70 million.
12. Mets (5): Batting 1.000: Fernando Tatis, who had his first major league at-bat since Oct. 1, 2006.
13. Braves (13): They can't get enough of Jair Jurrjens. On Friday, he's starting on three days rest.
14. Twins (12): Where's Delmon Young? He has a whole four extra-base hits, and none are homers.
15. White Sox (19): Ken Harrelson and D.J. mugged for the "Kiss Cam." You can put it on the board!
16. Blue Jays (17): Closer B.J. Ryan, fresh off Tommy John surgery, is unscored upon in 12 outings.
17. Yankees (8): Good thing Mike Mussina's not pitching like Jamie Moyer. Moose has won five straight.
18. Orioles (22): They won two straight over AL East rival Red Sox for the first time since '05.
19. Brewers (18): Ryan Braun's $45 million deal is the largest in Brewers history (Jeff Suppan, $42M).
20. Dodgers (7): Andruw Jones is on fire. He's up to .182, his highest since he was at .200 April 4 .
21. Rangers (27): Buried just a few weeks ago, they've won six straight series -- their best since '99.
22. Royals (24): Role reversal: They're 6-0 vs. the Tigers, who started 11-0 vs. the Royals in '03.
23. Pirates (30): They just threw a shutout despite four errors and six walks, an MLB first since 1923.
24. Reds (29): Jay Bruce is hitting .611 over his last 10 games. So why's he in the minors?
25. Rockies (21): Opponents are batting .301 against Jeff Francis. No surprise he's winless.
26. Tigers (26): Miguel Cabrera hasn't had an extra-base hit in 11 games or an RBI in 12.
27. Padres (23): Greg Maddux is thinking of retiring. No kidding. At this rate, he'll get win 400 in 2082.
28. Mariners (26): Ichiro Suzuki has 27 10-game hitting streaks since '01, easily tops in the majors.
29. Giants (25): Finally, some good news for Barry Zito: A no-decision. Golf claps, golf claps.
30. Nationals (27): Who's hot? Aaron Boone. No joke: .407 with three homers in his last 11 games.
Indians Magic Number: 0
For me, it's settled.
There is no way the Indians don't repeat as American League Central Division champions. And frankly, they may run away with it by July 1.
That's because ...
-- They have not just the top starting pitcher in the division, but probably the top three. Seriously, name a Tigers, White Sox, Twins or Royals starter better than C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona or Cliff Lee and do it with a straight face.
-- And after a sluggish start, they are winning regularly now (victories in seven of nine) despite a continuously puzzling lack of an offense, which I suspect will clock in before May lets out.
Tonight, Sabathia continued righting his ship -- we all knew it was going to happen eventually -- throwing a complete game for the team's majors-leading seventh shutout. Five have come in the last eight games.
The performance also extended the Indians starters' scoreless-innings streak to a mind-boggling 43.1, a number I'm not convinced Tigers starters have reached total this year, let alone consecutive.
Here's the breakdown:
Sabathia, Friday: 2 IP, 4 K, BB
Aaron Laffey, Saturday: 7 IP, 2 K, BB
Carmona, Monday: 9 IP, 3 K, 4 BB
Lee, Monday: 9 IP, 5 K, 2 BB
Paul Byrd, Tuesday: 7.1 IP, 7 K, 0 BB
Sabathia, Tonight: 9 IP, 11 K, 2 BB
For the record, that's five consecutive quality starts, a bogus statistic if there was one when going by that three-runs-or-less-in-six-innings-or-more measuring stick but a worthwhile term when you are talking about nearly a week's worth of goose eggs. Wanna know the last Tigers starter not named Armando Galarraga to allow zero earned runs in a game? Then you better check in with the '07 season in review.
Heck, only three times this year has a Tigers starter even limited the opponent to one earned run -- one each from Galarraga, Jeremy Bonderman and Justin Verlander.
And that's why they're in the cellar and the Indians are knocking on the division lead again -- because pitching almost always, and especially in recent years with the AL Central (name the common trait of the '05 White Sox, '06 Tigers and '07 Indians), is the deciding factor in who thrives.
And who's saying "Wait till next year." Again.
He wants his MTV ...
Doug Reinhardt is about to become the most famous minor league baseball player since Drew Henson, with the difference between the two being that former Michigan Wolverine Henson -- in this head-to-head comparison -- was at least a, well, ummm, average talent on the field.
But Reinhardt, in turn, appears to have won hands down any off-the-diamond references. After all, the 22-year-old Class A third baseman and Orioles farmhand -- sorry, the term "prospect" is reserved only for hitters with a professional career average of .202 or higher -- recently has been seen chirping over MTV star Lauren Conrad.
Conrad, who all the cool kids call L.C., has been seeing D.R. for a little while now. "It's still early, so we'll see what happens," a source has told US Magazine.
Of course, it's not all that early in his minor league career, which began as an 18-year-old after being drafted by the Angels in the 10th round (293rd overall pick) of the June 2004 draft.
And here's what we've seen:
-- 2004, Rookie League (LAA): .205, 2 HRs, 9 RBIs in 47 games
-- 2005, Rookie League (LAA): Did not play because of an injury
-- 2006, Rookie League (LAA): .188, 0 HRs, 5 RBIs in 23 games
-- 2007, low Class A (BAL): .205, 0 HRs, 3 RBIs in 18 games
(He has, however, been hit by a pitch nine times. Now that's something.)
In other words, we all can assume they didn't meet at any All-Star games.
So, how did they first cross paths?
Well, like "The Hills," it all can be traced back to "Laguna Beach."
Reinhardt, a Torrance, Calf., native is the older brother of Casey Reinhardt, one of the cast members from season two of "Laguna Beach." That, you probably don't care, was the predecessor to still-running "The Hills."
Conrad, 21, is the main cog in both shows, which, at least best I can tell, have exactly the same plot: A host of well-to-do folks with far too much disposable income on their hands do absolutely nothing productive all day while having their lives taped and aired for millions to see and mock.
In other words, not unlike your Detroit Tigers.
Who Needs Help ...
Indians second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera's unassisted triple play tonight was just the 14th in modern major league history -- dating back more than a century -- but, amazingly, the second in just a year and two weeks.
Last April 29, in the seventh inning of a victory over the Braves, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki caught Chipper Jones' line drive, stepped on second base to double up Kelly Johnson and tagged Edgar Renteria.
And tonight, essentially, was the same sequence with just diffferent names: In the fifth inning against the Blue Jays, Cabrera caught Lyle Overbay's line drive, stepped on second base to double up Kevin Mench and tagged Marco Scutaro.
So, in honor of perhaps the game's rarest feat -- yes, there have been three more perfect games -- here's a look at some odds and ends about the history of the unassisted triple play:
-- Cleveland has been involved in six of the 14, turning three.
-- Two of the games featuring an unassisted triple play involved a player named Cliff Lee. The one we all know was the starting pitcher Monday night, while a journeyman outfielder/infielder with the same name for the Phillies was tagged out to complete one by the Boston Braves on Oct. 6, 1923.
-- Detroit turned its only one May 31, 1927, against -- Why, who else? -- Cleveland: First baseman Johnny Neun caught Homer Summa's line drive, tagged Charlie Jamieson between first and second and touched second base before Glenn Myatt could get back. The Tigers need it, too, winning, 1-0.
-- Five of the last seven teams to turn a triple play actually have gone on to lose the game, including the Indians, 3-0, in 10 innings Monday. Overall, triple-play-turning teams are a modest 8-6.
-- The shortest gap between them was a few weeks: Red Sox first baseman George Burns turned one Sept. 14, 1923, only to be followed by Braves shortstop Ernie Padgett on Oct. 6, 1923.
-- The longest gap between them was more than 41 years: The Tigers' in 1927 was the last until Senators shortstop Ron Hansen added his name to the history books July 30, 1968.
-- Only one came in the postseason: Cleveland second baseman Bill Wambsganss did it in Game 5 of the 1920 World Series against Brooklyn (click on the photo above for more info).
-- Of the players to turn them, eight were shortstops, four were second baseman and two were first baseman.
Sunday Special ...
Ken Griffey Jr. has been just a tad bit testy lately with the beat reporters, who -- understandably -- have been pestering the aging Reds outfielder about his future with the organization.
After all, it's a buzz Junior created when he told USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale it's "everybody's dream to go back where they started," setting off rumors off his pending return to the Mariners. The comments are similar to those he made a year ago.
"OK, I said the exact same thing last year. The exact same thing," Griffey told the Cincinnati Enquirer last week. "So why is it such a big story now? If I would have changed anything from last year, it would be a story. But I said the same thing."
The USA Today story said Griffey expects the team to approach him about a trade prior to the July 31 deadline. After all, unless the going-nowhere-soon Reds pick up his $16 million option for next season, he will hit the free-agent market for, essentially, the first time in his 20-year career while the Reds, his team since 2000, won't get a single player in return.
The No. 1 overall pick in 1987, he debuted with the Mariners two years later, at age 18, and spent the first 11 years of his career in Seattle. That tenure ended after the '99 season, when he OK'd a trade to Cincinnati, where he spent much of his boyhood while his father was carving out a pretty fine career in his own right.
Of course, Griffey still has control of his future zip code. Very few players with his tenure and stature don't have some expansive no-trade clause.
"I had control of it last year and the year before that, so why is it such a bit deal?" he asked. "This is not even ... you guys are making more of an issue than I am."
New Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said he thought any talks about Griffey, who remains three homers from 500, are "a little bit premature."
"I have had no discussions with him," Jocketty told the Enquirer. "And I'm not saying that couldn't happen, but it just hasn't at this point."
The Mariners, of course, would love to have their biggest star back.
"I think everybody in Seattle would like to see him retire in a Mariners uniform," team president Chuck Armstrong told USA Today. "He was born a Mariner and I'd like to see him finish up as a Mariner."
Armstrong, though, spoke carefully, later adding there was no deal in the works to add Griffey, who remains the team's career leader in home runs, slugging percentage, OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), intentional walks and crotch-grabbing salutes to Sparky Anderson.
LEE VIES (FOR CY YOUNG)
Ummmm, so this tale of the crafty left-hander one once was banished to the bullpen and later left off his team's postseason roster only to later return to a form few knew he had in reserve makes you wish the Tigers weren't so quick to give Mike Maroth the boot, eh?
Cliff Lee's amazing resurgence continued Wednesday night, when he blanked the Yankees for seven innings in lowering his ERA to a miniscule 0.81. He has allowed just four earned runs and two -- TWO! -- walks in 44.2 innings and none to his last 101 hitters.
This all from a guy who last year was so putrid after returning from an ab strain, the Indians even shipped him to Triple-A for a month hoping he'd find whatever he had in winning 46 games the previous three years. Well, he didn't, finished the year 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA and wasn't even eligible to pitch in the American League Championship Series against the Red Sox.
This spring, Lee, a 14-game winner in '04 and '06 and an 18-game winner in '05, actually had to win his starting job, beating out fellow lefties Jeremy Sowers and Aaron Laffey.
And now? Well, frankly, with C.C. Sabathia (2-5, 6.55 ERA) trying to find the form that earned him a Cy Young Award a year ago, Lee is looking like a surefire Game 1 starter should postseason baseball be in the cards for the Indians this October.
"When you talk about what he's done this year, you have to talk about toughness," manager Eric Wedge told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. "He had to re-establish himself at this level. But he had something to fall back on because of the kind of pitcher he was in the past."
So what's been the big difference? Take note, Mr. Verlander: This year, Lee, a fast worker by nature, has focused on slowing things down during critical points in the game.
"I've always liked to work fast," said Lee, who the Indians got in that ridiculous lopsided '02 trade with Montreal that also sent Grady Sizemore and Brandon Phillips to Cleveland for Bartolo Colon. "Now, I'm stepping off the rubber and taking a deep breath and thinking about the pitch I want to throw. I thought I was doing that in the past, but I was still moving pretty fast."
Lee is the ninth Indians pitcher since 1959 to start 5-0. Four of them have gone on to win 18 games, including Greg Swindell (18-14) in '88 and Sabathia (19-7) last season.
DOLL HOUSED
If you ask me, those inflatable dolls the White Sox propped up in their clubhouse during last weekend's series at Rogers Centre fit right in: They can't hit or pitch, either.
But they still caught the attention of the commissioner's office, who contacted the White Sox to discuss the incident. There was no punishment -- or an apology, for that matter.
"I will assure Major League Baseball that the doll was not violated in any way, shape or former," gernal manager Ken Williams told the Chicago Sun-Times before turning serious and talking about how disappointed he was with his employees actions, considering the organization had, just this past spring, held training sessions to help create a better work environment.
In case you missed it, before last Sunday's White Sox-Blue Jays game, two inflatable female dolls -- one with a baseball bat shoved in its behind (supposedly to prop it up, these classy folks insisted) -- were visible in the clubhouse, each holding a sign. One said "Let's go White Sox," while the other read "You've Got to Push," the team's motto born this past spring.
There also were bats pointed at the dolls, a motivational move aimed at attempting to snap the offense out of its going-on-two-years-long slump.
Tasteless? Big deal? Depends who you ask.
We'll start with Ozzie Guillen ...
"I'm not going to apologize. I'm not going to say I'm sorry," he told the media. "I don't know what to say. I can't come up with the words because as soon as I say that, that means I'm guilty of something. I'm not guilty."
So, who was the guilty party? Well, if this were a police investigation, outfielder Nick Swisher -- despite the early, defensive, "Why are you saying I did it?" -- would be a "person of interest." After his initial outburst, he did seem sorry for the incident. "It was one of those things that kind of happened. It was totally meant in a fun way. ... You're right, it probably was wrong, but if anybody was offended by it, we sincerely apologize."
That's all fine, but when can we expect the apology for that inexplicably sorry offense?
NOT SO AUTO-MATIC
Andrew Miller's seventh major league win spoiled Greg Maddux's bid at No. 350. It also spoiled the ex-Tigers chance at landing a John Hancock from a childhood idol.
Before his May 4 start against the Padres, Miller, the young lefty who the Tigers shipped to the Marlins in this offseason's stunning megablockbuster deal, gave autograph-seeking instructions to a clubhouse attendant.
Because it's not good form to bother that day's starting pitcher before the game, the attendant opted to wait until afterward to put in the request. But, with the veteran right-hander in a bad mood after failing in his fourth attempt to get the milestone victory, the attendant never was able to find the appropriate time to get the four-time Cy Young winner to sign the ball.
"It's not that big of a deal for me," Miller told the Palm Beach Post. "Hopefully, I'll get another chance to get one from him when we go out (to San Diego) in July. If not, I'll have to on the Internet and buy one."
Win or lose, Maddux probably will be in better spirits when they meet again.
After all, he finally became the ninth player in baseball history to reach 350 wins -- he got it done Saturday night against the Rockies in front of the home crowd.
QUOTABLE
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen's (zero-profanity rant) on talented Twins outfielder Carlos Gomez, who hit for the cycle in the teams' meeting Wednesday: "He might not be too far away from people saying, 'Torii Hunter who?' I saw Kirby Puckett play, and I said, 'Torii Hunter is not going to (make people) forget Kirby Puckett,' but this kid can bring a lot of good things to baseball. We need that. Forget about home runs. We need exciting players, the Paul Molitors, the Robin Younts, the Dave Winfields. We need those people back."
AROUND THE HORN
* An interesting statistic: The lowly Pirates actually saw their outfielders enter play Sunday first in the majors in homers (21), RBIs (77), slugging percentage (.537) and on-base percentage (.395). For the season, they have combined on a major league-best .932 OPS.
* Sidney Ponson's string of one-run outings ended at three. On Sunday, the veteran right-hander allowed six runs in 5.1 innings against the A's but still escaped without a loss. Afterward, Ponson said he "didn't have anything," or the same anything he owned from '04-07.
* Can somebody explain to me how Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb (42-18, one Cy Young since the start of '06) is only set to make $20.5 -- maximum! -- this year through 2010 while Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman (27-21 over that same span) will be banking a guaranteed $33.5 million?
* Amazing, isn't it, that Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel threw not one but two strikes from deep center to third base, cutting down a pair of Rockies on Tuesday night. Heck, during the final days of his pitching career, he couldn't even find the zone from 60 feet, 6 inches.
Trip to the Video Store (Yankees Edition) ...
"Daaaaaaaaaa Yankees win" sounds a lot more tolerable when said by Alvin, the lead Chipmunk:
This fellow's Yankees batting stance imitations are spot on (you gotta love Derek Jeter taking a pitch):
Friday Five ...
During some down time at Wednesday night's Red Sox-Tigers game at Comerica Park, colleague Dave Dye (Go State!) and I got to talking about what major league ballparks we've been to.
Granted, he's a tad further along in years than I, but his list is as bloated as Joe Morgan's autobiography -- in fact, I would venture to say he's been to at least 70 percent of the stadiums played in during his lifetime.
My count? Far, far less impressive (apparently, Joker Marchant Stadium doesn't count): Tiger Stadium and Comerica Park in Detroit, County Stadium and Miller Park in Milwaukee, U.S. Cellular Field (then-new Comiskey Park) and Wrigley Field in Chicago, and then-Jacobs Field in Cleveland.
Really, you'd think I'd stumble into more parks than that on accident.
So, that said, here's my list of the ballparks I'm most anxious to see ...
1. Yankee Stadium: I've driven by the House that Ruth Built, but, sadly, this one -- closing at season's end -- is gonna go down as a major regret. The summer schedule is too packed for a quick trip to the Bronx.
2. Fenway Park: I stood outside the Green Monster one night in the summer of '02 -- the summer I interned in Hartford -- and was supposed to hit a Tigers game there, too, but "stuff" got in the way. I'll get back, though.
3. Kauffman Stadium: Opened back in '73, it's stood the test of time -- and that fountain beyond the right-field wall makes Comerica Park's look like a lawn sprinkler? But how would I ever score a ticket?
4. Safeco Field: I've never been to Seattle, but a friend (and Michigan native) who now works at the Freep lived nearby for awhile and swears by this facility. Who cares about that? I just want to taste the Ichirolls.
5. Oriole Park at Camden Yards: Every baseball fan now enjoying a state-of-the-art ballpark has this gem to thank. It opened in '92 and, with a classic, cozy feel, it single-handedly killed off the cookie-cutter species.
... and five that I could live without:
1. Rogers Centre: My, how quickly this one went from "Eighth Wonder of the World" to massive downtown roadblock. Just how big is it? Well, my walk around the outside this past winter took, give or take, 13 days.
2. Metrodome: With its baggy Blue Monster, routine grounders that roll all the way to the wall and bounces so high you'd think the baseballs are stuffed with jumping beans, these games are painful enough to watch on TV.
3. Dolphin Stadium: The only thing bright about this two-sport facility's design is the blinding, blazing orange that blankets the entire lower bowl. Well, we know who wears the pants in this relationship ...
4. Tropicana Field: First of all, a batted baseball hit fair never -- never -- should be able to strike the ceiling, one of 2,345,673 reasons Major League Baseball doesn't play its games in basements across America.
5. McAfee Coliseum: There's so much foul territory, even the front-row patrons carry binoculars. I'd be willing to bet there's been a foul flyout or two that would've been over the roof at old Tiger Stadium.
Power Rankings ...
1. Diamondbacks (1): Max Scherzer's first start wasn't as impressive: seven hits, five runs in four innings.
2. Red Sox (2): Of Jonathan Papelbon's seven career losses, three are to the Tigers (two at Comerica Park).
3. Angels (3): After tearing it up in Detroit, Vladimir Guerrero went 4-for-26 with four singles. Figures.
4. Cardinals (11): Jason Isringhausen's percentage of swings and misses is 16.9, down from 22.9 in '07.
5. Phillies (6): Jimmy Rollins, out since April 8 with a sprained ankle, is due back this weekend.
6. Cubs (4): Cubs leadoff hitters (this includes Alfonso Soriano) have a majors-worst .194 average.
7. Dodgers (12): They've won 12 of 15, thanks to the 'pen (0.96 ERA last 10 games) and a revived offense.
8. Yankees (13): Recently demoted Ian Kennedy wants back in: His first minors start: 7.1 innings, one hit.
9. A's (14): Mark Ellis' walkoff homer snapped an 0-for-17 skid that dipped his home average to .158.
10. Mets (5): Now-healthy Moises Alou became the first 40-plus player to steal home since Paul Molitor in '88.
11. Marlins (20): Josh Willingham's reward for going on the DL: A random in-game run-in with Jennifer Aniston.
12. Twins (21): Carlos Gomez's cycle Wednesday was the first by a Twin since Kirby Puckett -- 22 years ago!
13. Braves (19): Ex-Tiger Greg Norton signed on after hitting .438 for the Mariners before they released him.
14. Rays (15): Hold off on the Hall plaque for now. Young Evan Longoria's 4-for-29 skid earned him a night off.
15. Astros (16): Lance Berkman tied a franchise record (Art Howe, Julio Gotay) with hits in eight straight hits.
16. Indians (10): The ERA (0.81) is impressive enough, but 6-0 Cliff Lee hasn't allowed a walk in 101 batters.
17. Blue Jays (18): In one day, two shortstops went on the DL -- David Eckstein (hip), John McDonald (ankle).
18. Brewers (9): How was Rickie Weeks fourth in the NL in runs while hitting .197 with an OBP of .324?
19. White Sox (8): Jeremaine Dye's homer Thursday gave the Sox 11 straight solos; they are tops with 30.
20. Tigers (7): 1-6 Justin Verlander didn't lose his sixth game last season until mid-September.
21. Rockies (22): They just won back-to-back games for the first time since winning four straight April 16-19.
22. Orioles (17): They've beaten K.C. 10 straight, meaning the Royals eventually will cost them the division.
23. Padres (23): Ex-Tiger Wilfredo Ledezma got his first start and didn't allow an earned run in four innings.
24. Royals (27): On Mother's Day, the first 10,000 get a pink T-shirt. In KC, that means everybody gets one.
25. Giants (26): Shortstop Omar Vizquel, out while recovering from knee surgery, could return this weekend.
26. Mariners (24): Since J.J. Putz (Trenton) came off the DL, his ERA is 6.75 and he's without a 1-2-3 inning.
27. Nationals (28): Good news: Dmitri Young's back pain subsided enough to avoid a trip to the Mayo Clinic.
28. Rangers (30): Ahh, so they found some pitching: Sidney Ponson is 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA. Seriously.
29. Reds (25): Wednesday's game against the Cubs drew 28,418, their third-largest crowd of the year. Ouch.
30. Pirates (29): Nate McLouth is the first Pirate with back-to-back multi-homer games at home since '49.
